TwoKinds: Dimensional Catastrophe

Part 3: Doppelgängers

The drawbridge rised behind them, and the door was closed.

Trace What a throneroom...

Then footsteps faded in.

Trace Who's this?

When the figure stepped into the light, Trace was shocked. It was Roselyn, holding a dimly lit lantern.

Roselyn 2 Welcome home, master.
Trace Master? Are you okay, Roselyn?
Roselyn 2 *gasp*
Trace What's wrong?
Roselyn I've...never heard you use my old name before. Gave me a fright.
Trace Oh, sorry.
??? <They might be the same people, but they're completely different than the original.>
Trace Oh, right... What are you doing here, anyway?
Roselyn 2 Oh, er, I came here to escort you.
Trace I'm fine, thanks.
Roselyn 2 R-really?
Trace Yeah? But, uh, where do I go?
Roselyn 2 Er, up the stairwell and at the top.
Trace Thanks? You sound stressed. Take a break, alright?
Roselyn 2 O-okay?

Trace and his friends walked up to the stairwell.

Roselyn 2 A-a break? Th-thanks. W-wait... W-wait! What about them!?
Trace Um they're coming with me?
Roselyn 2 But the dungeon's downstairs!
Trace "Dungeon?" It's alright.
Roselyn 2 A-alright...

Trace and co. went up the stairwell.

Trace Roselyn was a bit...jumpy... Now, "at the top." Where would that be?
??? <The highest room. The top floor.>
Trace Alright then. Top floor.

Then a portal opened up from nowhere.

Trace What the-
Kyle <You are not limited to a few powers. Walk through it.>
Trace Oh...okay...

Immediately they were in front of the doorway to the master bedroom.

Trace Before I go in, I must ask: Whose voice is yours? It sounds...familiar...
Kyle *whispering* Mine.

Trace jumped and turned.

Trace *whispering* You can do that!?
Kyle <I am a demigod. I can use telepathy whenever I want.>
Trace *whispering* Cool. Uh, alright, we're heading in.

Trace turned and faced the door, his hands on the handle set.

Kyle <Beware of what lurks on the other side.>
Keith *whispering* Whenever, Trace...

Trace opened the door gently and quietly and discovered someone still asleep. The figure yawned and revealed itself: It was Trace, under the blanket!

Trace 2 *yawn* Rosie? What have I told you? Don't-

Trace and the other Trace stared dumbfounded at each other.

Kyle <Like I said: Infinite timelines, infinite realms, infinite copies.>
Trace Infinite Traces...
Trace 2 Wh-who are you? An impostor!?
Trace No, I'm you.
Trace 2 H-how!?
Trace Let me explain-
Trace 2 What are you doing with those Keidran!?
Trace They're my friends!
Trace 2 "Friends!?" Keidran aren't people! They're naught but slaves and lowlifes!
Flora What!? You-

Flora charged at the other Trace, but the leash she wore pulled her back.

Flora *sobbing* You're just as bad as Old Trace...
Trace 2 "Old Trace?"
Trace It's...hard to explain... Uh, to put it simply, I had amnesia...
Trace 2 Amnesia? How?
Trace Ephemeral...?
Trace 2 Who's that?
Trace A demigod, slightly not unlike Kyle here...
Trace 2 Who's Kyle?
Kyle I am.
Trace 2 Step forth!

He did.

Trace 2 State yourself.
Kyle I am Kyle James Engler, demigod and ex-human. There's no need for your introduction, for I know you.
Trace 2 Really? Then who am I?
Kyle In your terms, it's Grand Templar Trace Legend of Mekkan. In my terms, it's Trace Lengend of Dimension A2.
Trace 2 What?
Kyle I'm not just your ordinary demigod; I am, in full, an interdimensional, telepathic, brainy ex-human from Dimension Prime I6.
Trace 2 I don't believe you.
Kyle <What about now, Grand Templar?>
Trace 2 What the crap!? I can hear you, but your mouth doesn't move!
Kyle <I'm speaking to you with my mind, sharing information, et cetera. What we say is true: He's from an alternate reality where he receives amnesia from a demigod and befriends Keidrans and Basitins.>
Trace 2 No way...
Kyle We are in need of a place to stay, for we cannot leave just yet.
Sythe/Raine/Keith/Flora What!?
Trace 2 Why not?
Kyle The device I used to get us here needs charging, and it takes roughtly twenty hours to charge fully.
Trace 2 Well, then. I welcome you, being from another reality! I shall inform everyone of your true identities and find you the finest inn I have!
Trace Wow, that's...awfully nice of you.
Trace 2 Why, thanks, other me. You want an escort?
Trace Nah. I know the way back.
Trace 2 Ah. Very well. Sleep well, travellers! You'll need it!

Trace and his friends then left.

Trace 2 An impostor? Friends with Keidran? Bleurgh! Sleep well, indeed, "friends"...